24 October 2007

Stories from 24 October 2007

Lebanon: Politics and Soccer

“The Lebanese treat their politics like other countries treat soccer. ‘All the props are there. You have team flags with various colors, you have buses that shuttle the fans, you...

24 October 2007

Lebanon: Wine

“The wine industry of Lebanon: $25 million a year, of which $10 million are from exports. 7 million bottles a year, of which 3 million are exported,” reports Dr. Rami...

24 October 2007

Lebanon: On the pre-election meetings

“So Christian “leaders” can do little at this stage. Pace any past pretence at grandeur, they forget that their past divisions have reduced them to bit players in a widening...

24 October 2007

Japan: Rape at Iwakuni

Turner at Keeping Pace in Japan comments on the alleged rape of a 19-year-old Japanese girl by four US Marines on the first night of the Sake Matsuri [Festival] in...

24 October 2007

Caucasus: LGBT Report

After mentioning it in a previous post, Unzipped: Gay Armenia posts the text of a new report on the situation of LGBT people in Georgia and Azerbaijan. The blogger says...

24 October 2007

Egypt: Red Card for Professionals

Egyptian Mostafa Hussein discusses the Red Card – available to professionals in his country. “In Egypt, we already have a system called the ‘Red card’ for expelling highly skilled professionals....

24 October 2007

Russia: Election Miscellanea

TOL's Elections in Russia writes about the voting plans of Russia's homeless; campaigning for Putin through vodka; a group of young people opposing Putin; and a group of artists supporting...

24 October 2007

Ukraine: Two Paintings

Olechko posts her painting of an apartment block in Lutsk, which, like most apartment blocks in this part of the world, initially looked gray, but then she began painting it,...

24 October 2007

Armenia: Shopping Tales

Peace Corps Volunteer (PCV) Dominic in Armenia recounts a few humorous stories about shopping in Armenia. The tales depict life in the country very well indeed.

24 October 2007

Kuwait: Lost Between Cinemas and Restaurants

Between banned and censored movies in cinemas to restaurants which have a lot to make up for in terms of service, Kuwaiti bloggers were at wits' end last week. Abdullatif AlOmar brings us the latest from the Kuwaiti blogosphere in this post.

24 October 2007

Tunisia: Solidarity Visit Blocked

Mohammed Abbou, the legendary dissident who sewed his own mouth shut in jail to protest censorship, is once again harassed by the Tunisian authorities, who have banned him from travelling...

24 October 2007